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Freight Guru

Freight Guru

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Get out your crystal ball and lock in your predictions...

What do you think our company will look like in 10 years? Who will be in charge? Will we have autonomous line haul tractors? How big will we be?

Serious opinions only -- and try to keep the Negative Nancy-ism in check.
 
Closed. It will be discovered there were some mega book cooking going on during our huge growth. Always happens to places like this. Every one will go back to fedex.
 
BillyLo said:
Closed. It will be discovered there were some mega book cooking going on during our huge growth. Always happens to places like this. Every one will go back to fedex.
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Ok...1 vote for shut down. Even though all evidence points to the opposite.
 
Considering YRC is still alive, I don't think OD is going anywhere. I don't think autonomous tractors will be cost effective in a decade, but the manual transmission will be a thing of the past as integrated smart drivetrains improve tractor fuel economy.

As for OD, if they keep recruiting FedEx drivers eventually they'll surpass them. But freight volumes are a fickle mistress. Personally, I'd like to see OD establish their own Canadian network instead of relying on interlining.
 
Canadian Flyer said:
Considering YRC is still alive, I don't think OD is going anywhere. I don't think autonomous tractors will be cost effective in a decade, but the manual transmission will be a thing of the past as integrated smart drivetrains improve tractor fuel economy.

As for OD, if they keep recruiting FedEx drivers eventually they'll surpass them. But freight volumes are a fickle mistress. Personally, I'd like to see OD establish their own Canadian network instead of relying on interlining.
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It is not legal for a US-based trucking company to own a Canadian trucking company. All US-based trucking companies must partner in Canada.
 
Being that you guys still focus on customer satisfaction, and the employees, you guys are here to stay . This is coming from a 16 year FedEx Freight guy. Formally AF employee . If anybody big in the LTL segment go's down ( with the exception of CT or YRC ) I promise you guys it will be FEDEX . Our upper management has no clue at all. They are getting way to big , way to fast. We are now the Swift of the LTL market , and we damage everything . We aren't even an LTL company anymore , we a merely an investment firm. Keep up the great work O.D. You guy kick ass !!!!!!
 
automatics NO.. not going to take the hit in fuel mileage. possible move to LNG..cost/regeneration engines.. more next day points with aggressive dock/schedule management and use of teams. wild runs gone.. autonomous tractors won't be seen in the east in my lifetime... they can't even get the current on board systems to work without glitches.. no HAL,everything is fine...
 
wildcatdriver15 said:
It is not legal for a US-based trucking company to own a Canadian trucking company. All US-based trucking companies must partner in Canada.
Click to expand...
Entirely untrue. FedEx, Con-way/XPO and YRC (for YRCF through Reimer Express Lines Ltd.) all own their Canadian carriers, and that's just in LTL. Schneider National has an in-house Canadian operation, Celadon did until they renamed it Hyndman (after a carrier they purchased that had higher success hiring due to better pay...the pay didn't make the transition) and a few Canadian carriers have even built into the US (Day & Ross USA, TransX USA & Verspeeten Cartage USA/Cordell Transportation come to mind). And prior to TNT selling off TNT Freightways (later USFreightways) their operation was one as well, with Overland Express in Canada taking care of Red Star, Holland, Dugan and Reddaway in the US.

The reason partnerships are more common is because establishing a visible presence in Canada isn't easy. In most cases, US carriers buy their partner. This won't happen with OD though because two carriers service them, and Speedy Transport has a much bigger contract with YRCW to be the Canadian presence of Holland and New Penn. That being said, OD has sent Speedy a van to do P&D with because they want the customer to see their name.

Having that visible presence among their customers, combined with already doing the border crossing part on their own, suggests that OD does eventually plan to establish their own fleet here. I would welcome it.
 
10mm said:
automatics NO.. not going to take the hit in fuel mileage. possible move to LNG..cost/regeneration engines.. more next day points with aggressive dock/schedule management and use of teams. wild runs gone.. autonomous tractors won't be seen in the east in my lifetime... they can't even get the current on board systems to work without glitches.. no HAL,everything is fine...
Click to expand...
Have you driven a modern automatic tractor? To say nothing of the fact that the EPA is already actively campaigning to ban manuals in tractors (it's already law, they're just not enforcing it yet) a modern AMT can shift way better than you can. AMT's don't grind gears or blow shifts or ride clutches so they're cheaper to maintain, too. Trust me, friend, they're coming.
 
Canadian Flyer said:
Have you driven a modern automatic tractor? To say nothing of the fact that the EPA is already actively campaigning to ban manuals in tractors (it's already law, they're just not enforcing it yet) a modern AMT can shift way better than you can. AMT's don't grind gears or blow shifts or ride clutches so they're cheaper to maintain, too. Trust me, friend, they're coming.
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We have them now and We are not getting the fuel mileage. Not even close to the freightshakers.
 
BillyLo said:
Closed. It will be discovered there were some mega book cooking going on during our huge growth. Always happens to places like this. Every one will go back to fedex.
Click to expand...

Due to the current CAROLINA influence.......we will survive if he goes
 
Canadian Flyer said:
Entirely untrue. FedEx, Con-way/XPO and YRC (for YRCF through Reimer Express Lines Ltd.) all own their Canadian carriers, and that's just in LTL. Schneider National has an in-house Canadian operation, Celadon did until they renamed it Hyndman (after a carrier they purchased that had higher success hiring due to better pay...the pay didn't make the transition) and a few Canadian carriers have even built into the US (Day & Ross USA, TransX USA & Verspeeten Cartage USA/Cordell Transportation come to mind). And prior to TNT selling off TNT Freightways (later USFreightways) their operation was one as well, with Overland Express in Canada taking care of Red Star, Holland, Dugan and Reddaway in the US.

The reason partnerships are more common is because establishing a visible presence in Canada isn't easy. In most cases, US carriers buy their partner. This won't happen with OD though because two carriers service them, and Speedy Transport has a much bigger contract with YRCW to be the Canadian presence of Holland and New Penn. That being said, OD has sent Speedy a van to do P&D with because they want the customer to see their name.

Having that visible presence among their customers, combined with already doing the border crossing part on their own, suggests that OD does eventually plan to establish their own fleet here. I would welcome it.
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Doesn't New Penn have their own terminal in Montreal and Quebec ?
 
Canadian Flyer said:
Entirely untrue. FedEx, Con-way/XPO and YRC (for YRCF through Reimer Express Lines Ltd.) all own their Canadian carriers, and that's just in LTL. Schneider National has an in-house Canadian operation, Celadon did until they renamed it Hyndman (after a carrier they purchased that had higher success hiring due to better pay...the pay didn't make the transition) and a few Canadian carriers have even built into the US (Day & Ross USA, TransX USA & Verspeeten Cartage USA/Cordell Transportation come to mind). And prior to TNT selling off TNT Freightways (later USFreightways) their operation was one as well, with Overland Express in Canada taking care of Red Star, Holland, Dugan and Reddaway in the US.

The reason partnerships are more common is because establishing a visible presence in Canada isn't easy. In most cases, US carriers buy their partner. This won't happen with OD though because two carriers service them, and Speedy Transport has a much bigger contract with YRCW to be the Canadian presence of Holland and New Penn. That being said, OD has sent Speedy a van to do P&D with because they want the customer to see their name.

Having that visible presence among their customers, combined with already doing the border crossing part on their own, suggests that OD does eventually plan to establish their own fleet here. I would welcome it.
Click to expand...

I don't think OD terminals in Canada is a priority. We have strong partners in the East and West. That is a good idea though -- having some of our trucks driving around Canada for the brand recognition.
 
Canadian Flyer said:
Entirely untrue. FedEx, Con-way/XPO and YRC (for YRCF through Reimer Express Lines Ltd.) all own their Canadian carriers, and that's just in LTL. Schneider National has an in-house Canadian operation, Celadon did until they renamed it Hyndman (after a carrier they purchased that had higher success hiring due to better pay...the pay didn't make the transition) and a few Canadian carriers have even built into the US (Day & Ross USA, TransX USA & Verspeeten Cartage USA/Cordell Transportation come to mind). And prior to TNT selling off TNT Freightways (later USFreightways) their operation was one as well, with Overland Express in Canada taking care of Red Star, Holland, Dugan and Reddaway in the US.

The reason partnerships are more common is because establishing a visible presence in Canada isn't easy. In most cases, US carriers buy their partner. This won't happen with OD though because two carriers service them, and Speedy Transport has a much bigger contract with YRCW to be the Canadian presence of Holland and New Penn. That being said, OD has sent Speedy a van to do P&D with because they want the customer to see their name.

Having that visible presence among their customers, combined with already doing the border crossing part on their own, suggests that OD does eventually plan to establish their own fleet here. I would welcome it.
Click to expand...
It is true, look at your Cabotage Laws. Some companies have found slick ways to get around it such as UPS having a partner that only handles their freight and the drivers wear UPS uniforms, but they don't own the company. Your laws do not allow foreign based trucks to make point to point delivery in Canada, with a few exceptions. If the company is owned by a US trucking company, the vehicles are considered foreign based and fall under this law. We don't have these laws in the US so a Canada based truck can operate here. But hey, our country is very open to creating laws that make it easier for Canadian and Mexican drivers to work here, or at least easier than it is for an American driver.....
 
CBSA policy states that only Canadian operators driving Canadian vehicles are permitted to make point-to-point deliveries of domestic goods in Canada. Customs duties may be levied on foreign-based vehicles, containers, trailers and semi-trailers imported into Canada, pursuant to the Customs Act and the Customs Tariff. Vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers must be exported within 30 days of the date of their importation
 
wildcatdriver15 said:
It is true, look at your Cabotage Laws. Some companies have found slick ways to get around it such as UPS having a partner that only handles their freight and the drivers wear UPS uniforms, but they don't own the company. Your laws do not allow foreign based trucks to make point to point delivery in Canada, with a few exceptions. If the company is owned by a US trucking company, the vehicles are considered foreign based and fall under this law. We don't have these laws in the US so a Canada based truck can operate here. But hey, our country is very open to creating laws that make it easier for Canadian and Mexican drivers to work here, or at least easier than it is for an American driver.....
Click to expand...

This thread is purely speculative. Maybe in 10 years laws will be different. OD might be in space by then too.

Carry on!
 
Canadian Flyer said:
Have you driven a modern automatic tractor? To say nothing of the fact that the EPA is already actively campaigning to ban manuals in tractors (it's already law, they're just not enforcing it yet) a modern AMT can shift way better than you can. AMT's don't grind gears or blow shifts or ride clutches so they're cheaper to maintain, too. Trust me, friend, they're coming.
Click to expand...
Good. Because my left knee is getting awfully tired.
 
Songremainsthesame said:
Con-way Freight (now XPO) operates terminals in Canada under the name Con-way Freight Canada...
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Under the name Con-way but the company is Canada Merger Corp. It is eventually owned by XPO but there's still a buffer. Canadian company owned by Canadian company owned by American company. Long story short, I doubt OD has any intention of trying to operate in Canada even if it were possible because the difficulty of dealing with Canadian govt. not dealing with drivers and benefits is reason enough.
 
wildcatdriver15 said:
CBSA policy states that only Canadian operators driving Canadian vehicles are permitted to make point-to-point deliveries of domestic goods in Canada. Customs duties may be levied on foreign-based vehicles, containers, trailers and semi-trailers imported into Canada, pursuant to the Customs Act and the Customs Tariff. Vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers must be exported within 30 days of the date of their importation
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The part that you seem to be misunderstanding here is that those laws apply to American drivers and equipment, NOT the carrier. If OD came to Canada, they would need a fleet of trucks and trailers plated in Canada as well as an administrative office. They would require Canadian employees, etc, to move freight domestically.

And those laws also exist on your side of the border, with virtually identical wording. Example: OD tractor, driven by US driver, crosses border into Canada. Drops two trailers in Toronto. But the only available load to the US is located in London. The US driver may take two empty trailers to London, exchange them for the loaded ones, then carry on back to the US. This is NOT considered a domestic freight move, and is done purely in the interest of getting you home. It WOULD be illegal to have that driver pull two loaded trailers between Toronto and London, but empties do not count. The reverse is true in the US.
 
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